Chad Ford Mock Draft 8.0 - Celtics Picks

[BleedGreen1989]

Just was wondering if somebody could post this so we could discuss it? Thanks

[sofutomygaha]

1. Davis to NO
2. Robinson to WAS
3. MKG to WAS
4. Beal to CLE
5. Barnes to SAC
6. Drummond to POR
7. Waiters to GS
8. Lilliard to TOR
9. Henson to DET
10. Rivers to NO (!!!!)
11. Lamb to POR
12. Leonard to MIL
13. T. Ross to PHO
14. Zeller to HOU
15. T. Jones to PHI
16. Moultrie to HOU
17. Marshall to DAL
18. Melo to MIN (!!!!!)
19. PJ3 to ORL
20. Sullinger to DEN
21. Nicholson to BOS
22. Harkless to BOS
23. White to ATL
24. MIller to CLE (!!!!)

[Donoghus]

An Irving/Beal backcourt in CLE would be something to watch.

[Kane3387]

With the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics Select:

Andrew Nicholson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 234 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. Bonaventure
Analysis: Nicholson is another draft sleeper who may really rise with workouts. He's a big stretch 4 who has drawn some comparisons to David West. He would be another welcome addition to the Celtics' summer makeover.

With the 22nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics Select:

Moe Harkless

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 207 pounds
Age: 19
School: St. John's
Analysis: The Celtics get a pretty safe pick with Nicholson at No. 21 and then roll the dice a bit with Harkless at No. 22. He's long and athletic and can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. If the team is going to start rebuilding, it'll need to nail a few of these late picks like it did with Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley.

Would love it if Perry Jones III and Jared Sullinger would somehow both fall to us.

[Chris]

An Irving/Beal backcourt in CLE would be something to watch.

I'm not sold at all on Beal.  He wasn't impressive at all when I saw him play.  He may have the body and athleticism to look like Ray Allen in workouts...but he doesn't have the game or the mentality.

I think he is one of those guys that would be great if you picked him 15th, and expected him to be a 4th or 5th starter or coming off the bench, but in the top 5, there is going to be a ton of pressure for him to be a star, and I just don't see it happening.

[sofutomygaha]

I think that Melo to Minnesota call is completely ridiculous. Ford says it's to replace Darko... ok but hardly the time to reach when what they really need is a wing and Quincy Miller is sitting there.

Sullinger is a terrible fit for the Nuggets! What on earth??? It's a moot point, because unless he really is an unsalvageable physical disaster there's no way the Rockets would let him get past them at 16.

In this scenario, I'd much rather draft White or Miller than Harkless. At this point I think I'm all in on Nicholson (it also seems like everyone is forecasting that he's our guy). After reading Hollinger's writeup on Miller, I'm leaning towards him. His thesis was that wings with good college numbers are the safest bet to achieve in the pros. On that basis, he ranks Miller in the top 10 based on a statistical projection from his 2011-2012 college season, where he was still recovering from ACL surgery.  The team that drafts him will get a fully healthy guy who was a top 10 NCAA producer on one leg...

[rickyfan3.0...]

Did someone in here say they wanted Jarred Sullinger?

[Chris]

Did someone in here say they wanted Jarred Sullinger?

I think Sullinger would be a dream pickup for the C's.  He is a perfect fit next to KG, and has potential for the future.  If he is available past about 16 or so, I expect Danny to do everything he can to trade up (short of using both picks).

[Donoghus]

An Irving/Beal backcourt in CLE would be something to watch.

I'm not sold at all on Beal.  He wasn't impressive at all when I saw him play.  He may have the body and athleticism to look like Ray Allen in workouts...but he doesn't have the game or the mentality.

I think he is one of those guys that would be great if you picked him 15th, and expected him to be a 4th or 5th starter or coming off the bench, but in the top 5, there is going to be a ton of pressure for him to be a star, and I just don't see it happening.

He'd be 2nd banana there so I think certain expectations would be tempered.  Irving would still be the guy.  I'm not completely sold on Beal, either.  I have him #3 after Davis & MKG but I think it, potentially, be a fun backcourt to watch.  

[The One]

This is good with me.  I like Nicholson and I really like Harkless.  He could be a top 5 player taken from this draft.

Harkless is definitely a hard worker:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/moe_at_work_djZrae7jQ8kJqWzb4kwFAP

Nicholson has a good post game:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4695258/2012-draft-profile-andrew-nicholson

Let's get it done!

[jgod213]

I think that Melo to Minnesota call is completely ridiculous. Ford says it's to replace Darko... ok but hardly the time to reach when what they really need is a wing and Quincy Miller is sitting there.

Well i think the idea is to keep working Derrick Williams at the 3, and if that's the case i think Melo at 18 is a smart gamble for 'Sota.  They have the PG, they have the scoring PF, they have the athletic SF, now they just need someone to protect the rim and fit in, if Melo pans out even a little bit he can add a lot to that team over time.

Sullinger is a terrible fit for the Nuggets! What on earth??? It's a moot point, because unless he really is an unsalvageable physical disaster there's no way the Rockets would let him get past them at 16.

I'm ok with this pick, too.  They've already got a lot of clearly defined roles in Denver, but one thing they don't have is a pure post player.  He would be a great compliment off the bench to Galinari.  A A minute crunch with Faried but in my book that's a good problem rather than a bad one.

[sofutomygaha]

One other comment- Royce White in Atlanta would be interesting, but where I think he'd be really interesting is Golden State.

[BleedGreen1989]

It would be something else if PJ3 and Sullinger both fell to us (pipe dream, I know)

I'm not sure why but I'm not as high on Nicholson as everybody else. I hope he proves me wrong. I love Harkless more and more as I watch him but I have a strong feeling somebody will fall in love with his potential and reach for him in the 14-18 range

[Evantime34]

This mock is giving me hope for a PJ3 and Sullinger Draft. If that happens it would set us up positively for the future.

[BleedGreen1989]

This mock is giving me hope for a PJ3 and Sullinger Draft. If that happens it would set us up positively for the future.

Could you imagine two previous top 10 picks falling to us? There'd be no need for Danny to trade up